Swiss Activities Team Tips - 17 tips for your trip

Switzerland.

To us at the Swiss Activities Team, it represents many different things. For some of us, it’s home; it fascinates and occupies us daily at work, and it constantly reveals new things we want to share with the world.

In this article, our team members share their tips with you. Often, these are personal insights that don’t quite fit into one category and wouldn’t fill an entire article. Yet, they are certainly worth mentioning.

So get ready for a vibrant array of ideas, inputs, and travel tips straight from the Swiss Activities Team.

Denis' Tips

I originally come from Darmstadt in Germany. Throughout my life, I’ve had the opportunity to explore many corners of the world, ultimately finding my home in the Bernese Oberland. Here, I can truly do everything I love. Whether I’m paragliding, mountain biking, skiing, or just enjoying time in the mountains with my family, I'm happy. Otherwise, I love exploring Switzerland and Europe with my family and our camper.

No matter where, with Freeletics your gym is always with you

Bodyweight training has always fascinated me. For one thing, I'm independent of a lot of equipment, and for another, I work with exactly the relevant weight for functional fitness. Bodyweight training doesn't require anything, but I prefer my workout in athletic clothes and with an exercise mat.

Freeletics meets all my needs in this regard. I can configure my workout goals and tell the app what workout tools are available to me. From a huge repertoire of exercises, it creates a new set for me for each workout session. The sessions are short and there is hardly any excuse to postpone the workout.

Freeletics is the perfect tool for any vacation. Maybe also for your trip in Switzerland?

Save food and money with Too Good To Go

We all love our planet - I'm almost certain of that. Food waste is a big contributor to the unnecessary strain on our limited natural resources. Too Good To Go has excited me from the start. Restaurants and other participants offer products that are no longer suitable for regular sale, but are far too good for the garbage can - simply "Too Good To Go".

In the meantime, I had great surprise bags from the supermarket next door, desserts and main dishes from restaurants I didn't know yet, a box of drinks from a brewery, and a huge box of chocolate and granola bars. The price was always small, the quality was great and often I was able to discover new things. Join in and save food at home as well as when traveling. In Switzerland, well over 10,000 restaurants, bistros, supermarkets, bakeries and cafés are taking part.

Threema - Privacy Made in Switzerland

There are many messengers and each one probably has its advantages. I value transparency and data protection above all. Threema was very appealing to me right from the beginning. A Swiss company that guarantees full privacy and allows complete anonymity. For me, investing the equivalent of a large latte macchiato was a no-brainer.

Over the past few years, I've been able to get my family and a large part of my circle of friends to use it, and the number of users continues to rise continually. Since 2022, the Swiss army has prescribed Threema as the messenger for official communication for its members. If privacy and transparency are important to you, give it a try.

Seraina's Tips

I grew up in a small village in the Appenzellerland and now, after many travels around the world, I live in St. Gallen. I love exploring Switzerland. Whether it’s looking for inspiration for the next article for Swiss Activities or my blog Lost in Switzerland, or simply enjoying the beauty of the country, it’s usually a mix of both.

### Harness the Power of the Day Pass It's just as valuable for locals as it is for tourists. Whenever I don't have a GA and I'm planning a trip in Switzerland, I always look for an SBB day pass. There are usually discount day passes available that are really worth it when you plan in advance.

When I have friends visiting from abroad, the first thing I do is check the SBB discount day pass calendar. This way, I've often been able to show my guests around my home for a very good price.

Thanks to Digital Republic, always online

So far, this has been the cheapest option I found to get unlimited data for a month in Switzerland. I've already recommended it to friends in Germany and my cousin in New Zealand, and they've loved it, just like I do… By activating the E-SIM from Digital Republic, you pay 10 CHF per month and can surf unlimited. It's not a subscription and therefore has no fixed term. Definitely the best and, to my knowledge, the cheapest option to stay online while traveling through Switzerland.

Stale bread tastes the best, right?

In addition to Too Good To Go, which I like Denis use from time to time, there’s another great concept that not only combats food waste but also helps save on travel expenses. Ässbar offers baked goods and other delicacies from bakeries that couldn’t be sold the day before under the motto “fresh from yesterday.” And at unbeatable prices.

So, if you want to save a delicious sandwich or a sweet cream slice from the trash while also saving money, definitely visit an Ässbar during your trip.

A power bank is always good

How many times have I been on a day trip and suddenly realized that my phone battery was almost gone? Listening to music, searching for train connections via the SBB app and photographing or filming all the beautiful landscapes is a real drain on the battery. That's why I never go out again without my power bank, so that I don't suddenly have to do without a photo at a critical moment.

So if you're going to be out for a whole day and plan to use your phone or camera a lot, I recommend packing a powerbank.

Mathias' tips

Originally I come from Grindelwald and therefore I know the Jungfrau region with all its facets. By the way, here you will also find the Big Pintenfritz, the longest toboggan run in Europe. It leads from Faulhorn over 15 km to Grindelwald. To anticipate the first tip..

In the meantime, however, I live on Lake Zurich and work here for Swiss Activities. I like to be out in nature as much as in good restaurants.

### 65,000 km should be enough Switzerland boasts over 65,000 km of hiking trails. That’s why I recommend going for at least one hike during your trip. On the Swiss Mobility Map, which is also available as an app, you’ll find a vast selection of trails for all fitness levels. The website of Swiss Hiking Trails is also a great resource.

Exploring the mountains with an E-MTB

Renting an E-Mountain Bike is perfect for discovering the beautiful Swiss mountain landscapes. You’ll be flexible, see so much, and can stop anywhere to enjoy the view. The best part is that the daily rental for a bike costs about the same or even less than a mountain lift ticket. Plus, you can skillfully avoid the crowds.

With a guided E-MTB tour, you'll be shown the best spots in a region that you might not find on your own.

### The Friends Day Pass belongs in every backpack If you’re under 25 and want to travel affordably across Switzerland, you should definitely grab a Friends Day Pass. This allows up to four people to travel on the entire public transportation network across Switzerland for only 80 CHF per day. It’s the perfect deal for backpackers!

Fondue and snow go great together

You absolutely shouldn’t miss out on a fondue while you’re in Switzerland. In winter, I recommend combining it with night sledding. This way, you can enjoy a perfect mix of fresh air, snow, fun, adrenaline, and delicious food.

Tanja's tips

I was born and raised in Thun. In the meantime I share my center of life between Thun and Barcelona. I like a nice hike in the mountains as much as a cozy get-together with the family or a summer day at Lake Thun.

Quality Time with Your Favorite Person

It doesn't always have to be a birthday or anniversary. What could be better than spending quality time with your favorite person? Pack your best friend, partner, or significant other into the car and enjoy a little getaway at the spa. For example, here in Grindelwald.

Activities on and around Lake Thun

The beautiful nature around the Lake Thun is best explored by boat. By the way, the day pass is valid for both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. I recommend stopping by the famous Giessbach Falls during a boat ride on Lake Brienz.

### Discover Cities in Switzerland. Autumn is the perfect time to explore cities in Switzerland. Stroll leisurely through the streets while learning more about the city with the interactive treasure hunt in over 25 Swiss cities. How about a boat trip in Interlaken?

Elkes Tips

I grew up in Leipzig and have been living with my second husband in Chiemgau (Upper Bavaria) for 35 years. Here, I learned to love the mountains and spent a lot of time in the Alps with my husband, dog, and friends. And not just in Bavaria but also in Austria, South Tyrol, and of course, Switzerland. A holiday home on the Spanish Costa Blanca provides balance with various water activities.

### One canyon fascinates me particularly Besides the mountains, I also love beautiful gorges. They have always captivated me on our travels. By the way, did you know that the Rheinschlucht is called the “Grand Canyon of Switzerland”? The stunning gorges in Verzascatal, Boggera, or Valle Maggia are just a few more examples of many breathtaking gorges in Switzerland. They are also perfect for canyoning.

If you’re not much of a water enthusiast, visiting a gorge in the evening is also a special experience. I think of places like the Gletscherschlucht Grindelwald or the Aareschlucht between Meiringen and Innertkirchen. The evening lighting makes these gorges seem almost mystical.

Admire the flora and fauna

When I'm out in the mountains, I take a lot of photos. Today everything has become much easier. All you need for beautiful photos is a good cell phone, which admittedly is now just as expensive as an SLR camera. I like to pay attention to the pretty alpine flowers and small animals like salamanders.

Try not only to enjoy the views, but also to pay attention to the little things on the ground. Especially on paths that are not so crowded, this is fun. You'll be amazed at what you might discover there.

Overcoming fear of heights

Do you know the feeling? You're standing high up and want to look down, but something inside you is cramping up and preventing you from doing so? In our family, we have two such candidates who get all green in the face just riding the cable car. They don't even know what beautiful moments in life they can miss as a result.

I felt the same way for a while as a teenager, but I found a remedy. I deliberately exposed myself to such situations over and over. It helps. And if it does get the better of you, direct your gaze to something nearby. Or take a picture, talk to your neighbor, distract yourself.

These were our Swiss Activities Team tips. We hope that we could inspire you and that you could take something with you for your trip through Switzerland.